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The Hockey News 2008 Trade Deadline Central

Starting with the first deal of the day and continuing until the last trade is made public, THN.com will be providing up-to-the-minute updates on each transaction followed by instant analysis from one of our experts.

Also running throughout the day starting Tuesday morning, THN.com's live trade deadline blog will keep tabs on the action with entertaining opinion and viewpoints from The Hockey News's Ryan Kennedy.

And don't forget to tell us what you think - give us your take on each deal by leaving a comment on which team you think came out on top in each deal.

16:55 EST

TO ANAHEIM Jay Leach, D

TO TAMPA BAY: Brandon Segal, F; 2008 7th round pick

ANALYSIS: Save the best for last? Not this time. If you've heard of either of the players dealt, give yourself a gold star. - EF

16:33 EST

TO NASHVILLE: Brandon Bochenski, RW

TO ANAHEIM: Future considerations

ANALYSIS: Brandon Bochenski is rapidly becoming a modern-day Mike Sillinger. With his trade to the Nashville Predators, he joins his fifth NHL organization in fewer than three years as a pro. All told, he’s playing for his eighth team as a pro. With J-P Dumont, Martin Erat, Martin Gelinas, Jordin Tootoo and Jed Ortmeyer down the right side in Nashville, there doesn’t appear to be much room for Bochenski, but he will provide the Predators with some depth down the stretch and in the post-season. - KC

15:53 EST

TO NASHVILLE: Jan Havlac, LW

TO TAMPA BAY: 2008 7th round pick

ANALYSIS: When the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Jan Hlavac out of Europe last summer, they were hoping he would give the team some secondary scoring on the second line with Brad Richards and Michel Ouellet. We can see by the fact that Richards and Hlavac were traded at the deadline that the experiment did not succeed at all. Now Hlavac gets to try to prove he still belongs in the NHL with a team that will likely make the playoffs. The Lightning, meanwhile, is preparing a sweater with “STAMKOS” on the back as we speak. - KC

15:44 EST

TO WASHINGTON: Alex Giroux, C/LW

TO ATLANTA: Joe Motzko, RW

ANALYSIS: This is a depth deal involving two players crowding 30 years old who are essentially point-per-game players in the American League this year, but have never been able to establish themselves at the NHL level. This is Giroux's second tour of duty with Washington after dressing for nine Caps games last season. - RD

15:33 EST

TO ANAHEIM: J-S Aubin, G

TO L.A.: 2008 7th round pick

ANALYSIS: Anaheim GM Brian Burke finally made his big splash at the trade deadline and he didn’t disappoint. The Ducks now have the market cornered on goaltenders with the first name of J-S. Aside from that, it gives the Ducks some depth at the goaltending position for the playoffs, but if they ever get to Aubin, their playoff hopes are sunk anyway. - KC

15:31 EST

TO ANAHEIM: M-A Bergeron, D

TO ISLANDERS: 2008 3rd round pick

ANALYSIS: Ducks GM Brian Burke did pull off a pair of trade deadline transactions after all on Tuesday, although neither will likely be remembered as anything close to difference-makers. Burke’s deal to acquire Marc-Andre Bergeron from the New York Islanders for a third-round pick is, from Anaheim’s perspective, all about depth for the playoffs. The Isles, meanwhile, continue to create more salary cap space for next season. - AP

ANALYSIS: It’s no surprise that Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney dealt for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa from the Rangers. Maloney was the director of player personnel for the Rangers when they drafted Montoya in 2004 and when they picked up Hossa in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in 2005.

Hossa had received ample opportunities time and again to establish himself in New York at the expense of other good young players and was never able to produce, but Maloney is betting that Montoya, who was once a blue-chip prospect for the Rangers, will develop into a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.

Montoya was outplayed by Henrik Lundqvist when the league reconvened after the lockout and appears to have stumbled in his pro career since then. There were once high hopes for David LeNeveu in Phoenix, but like Montoya, has yet to develop a consistent pro game. In Sjostrom and Gratton, the Rangers receive some spare parts who can step into the lineup. - KC

15:23 EST

TO FLORIDA: Chad Kilger, RW

TO TORONTO: 2008 3rd round pick

ANALYSIS: In an attempt to add some toughness around the net for a run at the playoffs the Florida Panthers acquired Chad Kilger from the Maple Leafs.

This would have been a good addition for a team already in the playoffs, as Kilger would add a gritty dimension to the third line, but the Panthers?

Kilger is cheap at $900,000 for another season, so a year from now if Florida is able to take a step forward from where they are now this deal could pay off.

But after what Washington has done today, as Ned Flanders would say, “as far as melon scratchers go, that’s a honey-doodle.” - RB

15:18 EST

TO DETROIT: Brad Stuart, D

TO L.A.: 2008 2nd round pick; 2009 4th round pick

ANALYSIS: At one time, Brad Stuart was thought to be breaking into the elite among NHL defenseman. But that transition never occurred and Detroit will be the fifth team he's played for since hockey resumed after the lockout. That number is likely to rise to six this summer, when Stuart becomes an unrestricted free agent.

L.A. GM Dean Lombardi continued his team's rebuilding process by turning Stuart into two picks, a second- and fourth-rounder. For the Wings, Stuart will help eat up some minutes until they get Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom back in the lineup. Come playoff time, he'll be a No. 6 or 7 man. - RD

15:12 EST

TO MINNESOTA: Chris Simon, LW

TO ISLANDERS: 2008 6th round pick

ANALYSIS: In what is apparently an effort to construct the Hanson Bros. 2.0 line, the Minnesota Wild acquired winger and occasional mind-loser Chris Simon from the Islanders (for a sixth-round pick) to join a roster that already includes noted knuckle-busters Todd Fedoruk and Derek Boogaard.

I suppose Wild GM Doug Risebrough wants to ensure his team doesn’t get pushed around like it did last year. The real question now is, can Simon, Fedoruk and Boogaard stay off the suspended list all at the same time? My guess is, no. - AP

ANALYSIS: Atlanta GM Don Waddell tried to squeeze his trading partners right to the NHL trade deadline and it appeared to pay off with his deal of Marian Hossa, who instantly becomes this year’s high-risk/high-reward rental. If the Pittsburgh Penguins fail to have an extended run in the playoffs, Penguins GM Ray Shero will be vilified for giving up so much of the team’s future for a player who has what best could be described a spotty playoff record.

There could be some very serious chemistry issues with the Penguins, particularly with Sidney Crosby and Colby Armstrong being so close, but let’s face it, Hossa is an infinitely better player than both Armstrong and Christensen are on their best days.

The Penguins have loaded up for what they feel could be a long and productive playoff run and adding Hossa and Pascal Dupuis on their right side gives them a lot of scoring on the wings along to go with the offensive prowess they have at center.

It looks like a terrific deal for the Thrashers who get two players who can step into their lineup who are under contract for a combined $1.95 million next season. Esposito is a wildcard in this deal, but he’s also a player whose stock has fallen drastically. He’s on pace to have a decline in his numbers for the second straight season in junior hockey and was not among THN’s top 50 prospects in our annual Future Watch issue. - KC

14:54 EST

TO RANGERS: Christian Backman, D

TO ST. LOUIS: 2008 4th round pick

ANALYSIS: Everybody thought the Rangers were going to have trouble defensively, but their patchwork blueline has held together pretty well this season. But despite the fact only four teams have allowed fewer goals than New York, the Blueshirts decided depth is never a bad thing and picked up 6-foot-4, 198-pound rearguard Christian Backman from St. Louis for a fourth round pick in 2008. - RD

14:46 EST

TO PITTSBURGH: Hal Gill, D

TO TORONTO: 2008 2nd round pick; 2009 5th round pick

ANALYSIS: The Pittsburgh Penguins gave up a fair amount (second round and fifth round picks) to acquire Hal Gill from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but as someone who’s seen a lot of the towering blueliner the last two years, I’d say it was worth it.

Of course, it’d be different were Gill not signed through next year at the relative bargain of $2.075 million. These days, that’s not an overpayment for a shot-blocking presence who’s always been a thorn in the side of Atlantic Division neighbor Jaromir Jagr. - AP

13:40 EST

TO WASHINGTON: Matt Cooke, RW

TO VANCOUVER: Matt Pettinger, LW

ANALYSIS: As the clock ticked closer to the 3 p.m. trade deadline, I’m betting Capitals GM George McPhee’s checklist of needs looked a lot like this:

With Cooke now the newest member of the Caps – and winger Matt Pettinger off to Vancouver in exchange for Cooke – it’s safe to say Washington owner Ted Leonsis is making good on his promise to superstar Alex Ovechkin to make the team a bona fide contender sooner than later. In my mind, Washington clearly is the favorite to win the Southeast Division now.

The Canucks, meanwhile, receive a younger forward in Pettinger who’ll cost them less (he’s signed through 2008-09 for a relatively cheap $1 million salary) next season than it would’ve taken to re-sign the soon-to-be-UFA Cooke. - AP

13:24 EST

TO ISLANDERS: Rob Davison, D

TO SAN JOSE: 2008 7th round pick

ANALYSIS: The Sharks cleared at least some of the money they likely hope to use to sign Brian Campbell to a long-term deal by shuffling blueliner Rob Davison to the Islanders. Davison is making $525,000 this year and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. The big, 27-year-old has appeared in 15 games for San Jose this year. - RD

13:15 EST

TO WASHINGTON: Sergei Fedorov, C

TO COLUMBUS: Ted Ruth, D

ANALYSIS: The Washington Capitals’ push for a Southeast Division title continued on trade deadline day with their acquisition of Sergei Fedorov from Columbus for Notre Dame defenseman Ted Ruth.

Fedorov was heavily rumored to be on his way to a Western Conference team, but Caps GM George McPhee has needed a veteran center to replace the injured Michael Nylander for months now, and he gets one in the 38-year-old Russian legend.

Another in a long line of soon-to-be unrestricted free agents dealt on trade deadline day, Fedorov also will provide a nice bump for Washington’s average power play.

Ruth, 19, was drafted 46th overall by the Capitals in 2007 and is a mobile, stay-at-home defenseman who didn’t rank in Washington’s top 10 prospect list in Future Watch 2008. The Naperville, Ill., native spent the previous two seasons with the U.S. national team development program and needs at least two more years development at Notre Dame. The fact he was not among Washington’s top 10 prospects suggests he’s more a middling project than anything close to a sure bet. - AP/BC

ANALYSIS: We can only assume that sometime before the deadline passes today, Patrick Roy will announce he has stepped down as president-GM-coach-head bottle washer for the Quebec Remparts to join the Colorado Avalanche. After all, it appears the Avs are intent on reassembling their Stanley Cup teams from 1996 and 2001.

Foote returns to Colorado after failing to reach a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Obviously, the Blue Jackets didn’t feel a 36-year-old Foote was worth anything near $4 million per year for two more years. Now, the Blue Jackets will get a first-round pick either this June or next, which is a good return for Foote.

But the risk for the Blue Jackets is that a dressing room that was void of leadership is even worse off in that department. It was so bad that coach Ken Hitchcock threw up his arms the other day and told the players to run practice.

The Jackets also get another conditional pick based on whether or not Foote re-signs with the Avalanche. The only team in NHL history never to appear in the playoffs looks as though it has resigned itself to another spring out of the post-season. There is speculation that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson would have stepped up for Foote if he had been able to get Brad Richards, but after that plan fell through he became a seller. - KC

12:39 EST

TO OTTAWA: Martin Lapointe, RW

TO CHICAGO: 2008 6th round pick

ANALYSIS: The Ottawa Senators’ recent losing skid renewed calls for GM Bryan Murray to add some leadership before the playoffs. Clearly, Murray was listening, because with the acquisition of veteran Martin Lapointe from Chicago (in exchange for a sixth-round pick), leadership is exactly what they’re getting. He’s also off the books after this season, meaning the Sens have acquired another low-risk, higher-reward-type player to go along with Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore. - AP

12:22 EST

TO COLORADO: Ruslan Salei, D

TO FLORIDA: Karlis Skrastins, D; 2008 3rd round pick

ANALYSIS: This is a swap of 33-year-old, slow-footed defensemen with the Colorado Avalanche getting the better player and the Florida Panthers getting the better of the deal from a financial standpoint. Salei gives the Avalanche a nasty presence on the blueline and a player who can create a decent modicum of offense. He likely won’t penetrate Colorado’s top four, but represents an upgrade over Jeff Finger of Kyle Cumiskey. The only potential pitfall is that Salei has two years left on his contract after this season at $3.025 million per.

Skrastins has been a durable shot-blocking defenseman in the past, but has missed numerous games this season with injury and healthy scratches. He will likely be plugged into Salei’s spot on the Panthers blueline, but the fact he is under contract for only one more year at $2.4 million made him more attractive than any on-ice attribute he could deliver to the Panthers. - KC

12:18 EST

TO CAROLINA: Tuomo Ruutu, LW

TO CHICAGO: Andrew Ladd, LW

ANALYSIS: A pair of restricted free agent wingers who hadn’t lived up to expectations were dealt for one another, as Chicago sent Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Andrew Ladd.

At one point in time, Ruutu was thought to be a cornerstone component of the Hawks, but injuries and inconsistent play had sent his stock on a slow downward spiral in the last few seasons. Though he’s on pace to play more games (80) since his rookie season in 2003-04, the 25-year-old is also on pace for his worst offensive output (eight goals and 28 points) since 2005-06, when he put up just five points in 15 games.

At 22, Ladd is a couple years younger than Ruutu, but he also been hobbled by a number of injuries since his rookie year of ’05-06, and isn’t exactly tearing the league’s goaltenders new ones (nine goals, 18 points) when he has played this season. - AP

11:51 EST

TO WASHINGTON: Cristobal Huet, G

TO MONTREAL: 2009 2nd round pick

ANALYSIS: The Canadiens obviously believe Carey Price can channel his playoff magic again – this time at the big-league level. Sending Cristobal Huet to Washington for a second round pick in 2009 officially turns Montreal’s goaltending reins over to Price, who led Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2007 World Junior Championship before taking the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Calder Cup title last spring.

If Huet gets Washington to the No. 3 seed, they won’t even sneeze at giving up a second-rounder, even if he walks come July. It’s definitely a trade worth making for the Caps, whose kids need post-season experience to further their development.

As for Montreal, the Canadiens are putting a lot of faith in a 20-year-old goalie, but do have good goaltending depth with Jaroslav Halak ready to step right in as a competent compliment. Of course, Habs fans are hoping for a repeat of Ken Dryden in 1971 and Patrick Roy in 1986, when those two goalies – both of whom were virtually unknown at the time – came in and led Montreal to unexpected Stanley Cups. No pressure, Carey. – RD

ANALYSIS: The way the Lightning has mismanaged its cap issues, it was lucky to get anything in return for Brad Richards, so acquiring Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern can’t be viewed as anything but a positive. The Lightning would have rather not taken Halpern, but the Stars insisted Tampa take Halpern’s contract, which has two more years after this season at $2 million.

Richards, on the other hand, has a chance to thrive in Dallas in a competitive situation on a team that is playing for something. With the potential of having Richards and Sergei Zubov on the points, the Stars will have a lethal power play going into the playoffs. The commodity the Lightning received the most was cap relief by dealing Vaclav Prospal and Richards, which will help it get out of the terrible situation in which it had put itself. - KC

11:28 EST

TO SAN JOSE: Brian Campbell, D; 2008 7th round pick

TO BUFFALO: Steve Bernier, RW; 2008 1st round pick

ANALYSIS: As expected, the Buffalo Sabres did not wish to gamble with soon-to-be unrestricted free agent blueliner Brian Campbell this summer, and dealt him to San Jose for right winger Steve Bernier and a first-round pick in the 2008 entry draft.

The Sharks were desperate for an upper-echelon, puck-moving defenseman, and everybody knew it. The Sabres couldn’t allow another of their stars to depart without a return, and everybody knew that, too.

There’s a good chance Campbell stays in San Jose beyond this year, but only if the team makes it past the second round of the playoffs. If they bow out early again, Campbell could still come back, but it may not be GM Doug Wilson’s call to make.

I like what the Sabres received in this deal. Bernier is a restricted free agent who hasn’t yet turned 23, and he’s precisely the kind of rugged, quick player who will thrive under Lindy Ruff. San Jose’s now former first-round pick won’t be a high one, but it helps the Sabres to feed their almost perpetual need for cheap young talent. - AP

11:17 EST

TO FLORIDA: Wade Belak, W/D

TO TORONTO: 2008 5th round pick

ANALYSIS: The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first trade deadline deal was not the blockbuster many expected from interim GM Cliff Fletcher. But it is the type of draft pick-stockpiling trade the Leafs must make if they ever intend to break the chains of mediocrity. Clearly, Belak – an unrestricted free agent after this season – was not a long-term component of Toronto’s plans for rebuilding. He’ll obviously toughen up a soft Panthers squad, but it’s doubtful he’ll be a key to them making the post-season for the first time in eight years. For now, call it a wash. - AP

10:33 EST

TO ST. LOUIS: Cam Janssen, RW

TO NEW JERSEY: Bryce Salvador, D

ANALYSIS: And so Trade Deadline Day 2008 opens with a blockbuster – Cam Janssen for Bryce Salvador. In what will ultimately wind up being one of the most forgettable trades of the day, the Devils get a useful defender who adds to the quality of their depth and the Blues get a tough guy which, if you watch Western Conference action, you know they’ll use him for a few shifts a game and then he’ll disappear in the playoffs. Yeah, like the Blues are going to make the playoffs. - MB

ANALYSIS: What a difference a season can make. At the 2007 deadline day, with last overall well in hand, the Flyers were in full on sell mode, peddling anyone on their roster for picks and prospects. The goals have changed in Philly, however, with the Flyers thinking a deep playoff run is still possible, despite winning for the first time in 10 outings Monday. Prospal, scheduled to be a UFA this summer, is still a guy with a lot of snipe in his stick, popping 29 goals (and 28 assists) in 62 games with T.B. this year.

The Lightning aren’t getting a premiere prospect in return for Vaclav Prospal. Defenseman Alexandre Picard, first of all, is the other Alexandre Picard. The Picard Tampa Bay is getting was selected 85th overall by Philly in 2003. He was a middling prospect until making the Flyers as a 21-year-old in 2006-07. He spent most of last season with the Flyers, but was back in the AHL this season. Picard was Philly’s No. 8 prospect in The Hockey News' Future Watch 2006 and was No. 5 on the Flyers list in Future Watch 2008. The other Alexander Picard was taken eighth overall by Columbus in 2004 and is working his way up in the Blue Jackets system (No. 6 in Future Watch 2008). - EF/BC

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